Click here to Donate Now  

Save the Children responds to tsunami in Samoa:
On September 29, 2009, an earthquake measuring 8.3 on the Richter scale struck approximately 150km off the southern coast of Samoa in the Pacific Ocean, triggering a tsunami which caused considerable damage across parts of Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga and Kiribati.

Save the Children’s Response:
148 Samoans lost their lives in the tsunami and an estimated 4,500 people were displaced. Five public schools were substantially damaged and lost furniture and equipment.

Although we have no programme in Samoa, Save the Children staff were on the ground soon after the tsunami to assess damage and needs. In partnership with Mapusaga O Aiga (a small local NGO), the Samoan Government, and with UNICEF, we quickly provided training sessions to local social workers helping affected children and communities deal with stress and grief.

This emotional support training was based on years of post-emergency experience in strengthening local resilience as the best response to local impact. Such support to children and communities helps them back to their feet faster, so that recovery efforts have stronger impact.

As we move into the long term recovery stage, Save the Children has undertaken to provide for local construction and supply of replacement school furniture catering for all 457 year 4 and older students.

All funds raised will contribute to this endeavour - supplementing Save the Children’s own funds towards meeting the approx NZD $40,000 overall cost – and helping the children of Samoa return to school.

The furniture will be in place for the start of the 2010 school year.

Click here to Donate now